Yesterday it looked like a fragment from some film at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Moments after The Guardian published an article about statements by COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber regarding phasing out fossil fuels, the climate movement was in turmoil.
Across the board of media, climate activists, civil society organizations and negotiating delegations, there was one prominent topic of discussion. According to The Guardian, Al Jaber said during a live online meeting on November 21 that there is no scientific basis for phasing out fossil fuels. According to him, this is not necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He is also said to have indicated that phasing out fossil fuels would not enable sustainable development unless one wanted to return the world to the Stone Age.
Sultan Al Jaber, oil tycoon and COP28 president
In January 2023, Al Jaber was appointed as COP28 president by the UAE. A storm of criticism erupted almost immediately from climate activists. They warned that Al Jaber’s appointment could undermine this year’s climate conference. Al Jaber is an oil magnate and CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the UAE’s state oil company.
The criticism is placed against the background of the 1.5 degrees Celsius target of the Paris Agreement. Scientific research shows that fossil fuels must be reduced rapidly to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Emergency press conference
Al Jaber called a press conference within record time. According to Al Jaber, his statement was taken out of context and received maximum media attention. “Let me make it clear what my position is regarding science. I have said time and time again that limiting and phasing out fossil fuels is inevitable. In fact, it is essential that this happens. However, the transition must be orderly, fair and responsible,” he said.
He continued by stating that there are repeated attempts to undermine the COP 28 presidency. Jim Skea, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was also present at the press conference. He said he had held several meetings with Al Jaber on climate science. “Dr. Sultan has paid attention to the science as we discussed it, and I think he fully understands it,” Skea said.
This story was published as part of Climate Tracker’s COP28 Climate Justice Reporting Fellowship
